Gauteng’s online school admissions platform has recorded an overwhelming response, with more than 600,000 applications received for Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners ahead of the 2026 academic year. The announcement was made by Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, who praised parents and guardians for their swift participation.
According to a statement issued by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), the application portal, which went live on 24 July 2025, recorded 600,936 submissions by 2PM on Tuesday, 5 August 2025. This includes 254,251 applications for Grade 1 and 346,685 for Grade 8, signalling strong public confidence in the province’s education system.
Online Application Process and Requirements
Parents and guardians who have yet to apply have until 29 August 2025 to complete the process on the official admissions website: www.gdeadmissions.gov.za. Applicants are encouraged to:
- Apply to a minimum of three and a maximum of five schools to increase placement chances.
- Upload certified documents online or submit them physically at the chosen schools within seven days of applying.
- Provide a valid cell phone number to receive all application and placement communications via SMS.
The GDE emphasised that only complete applications with all supporting documents submitted and verified will be eligible for school placement offers. Parents will be notified once documents have been received and validated.
Support for Parents Without Internet Access
To ensure inclusivity, the GDE has made application support available through:
- All public schools in Gauteng
- 81 decentralised walk-in centres across the province
The GDE Contact Centre is also offering extended support:
- Monday – Thursday: 07:00 to 17:00
- Friday: 07:30 to 16:30
- Saturday: 09:00 to 13:00
Parents can contact the department via:
- Toll-Free Line: 0800 000 789
- WhatsApp: 060 891 0361
- Email: gdeinfo@gauteng.gov.za
Placement Offers Begin in October
Successful applicants will begin receiving placement offers from 16 October 2025. The department encourages parents to regularly check the application portal and respond promptly to placement offers when they are made.
MEC Chiloane welcomed the high level of engagement, stating:
“The phenomenal number of applications we’ve received is a concrete demonstration of the trust parents place in Gauteng’s education system. We are grateful to all parents for their cooperation, and we continue to urge all parents to apply online.”
The province’s online admissions system, introduced to streamline enrolments and promote transparency, continues to evolve in its efficiency and user-friendliness. With the 2026 school year on the horizon, the GDE is urging parents not to delay in securing their child’s place in Gauteng’s public schools.
